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A wide choice of topics covered from the dawn of history right up to present days . Many of these have a wider relevance than purely within the context of Strathearn . The author's viewpoint often is at variance with the accepted opinions espoused elsewhere eg The Jacobite Uprisings and The Reformation .

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One of the benefits and joys
of living in Strathearn is its wonderful choice of walks . Walks to suit all participants . Hill walkers can access the peaks above Loch Turret with ease whilst
those older members of the community can choose from a superb variety of pleasant but
non demanding rambles in some of
Scotland’s most beautiful
countryside . Recognised paths are clearly sign posted and rights of way are
protected under the auspices of the local Council . The last few decades have seen a network of long
distance walks and paths established across Scotland – the best known in all
probability being the West Highland Way
stretching from Milngavie ( pronounced Mul – guy !! ) just north of
Glasgow , all the way to Fort William at
the fooft of Ben Nevis , our highest peak .Local writer , publisher and out door
enthusiast Felicity Martin wrote recently in Facebook : “ Super walk
today from St Fillans on Loch Earn in Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National
Park to…

The 19th century in Strathearn was one in which industry grew
and expanded . Auchterarder was a
thriving power and hand loom weaving centre for
cotton fabric . Crieff housed a multiplicity of new and expanding enterprises
including brewing , distilling ,paper making
,tanning , rope making, oil mills weaving and dying ! What is oft forgotten is that in the early 19th century , in
common with so many other areas not that far distant , there were
incredible efforts by entrepreneurs , individuals and corporate bodies , to explore , discover and develop the
vast coal resources that lay under Scottish soil . Here in
Strathearn , we were no different from
our neighbouring contemporaries in Stirlingshire ,Clackmannan and Fife .

The story of the efforts made
locally are well documented by Porteous in his “ The History of Crieff “
and I replicate a few of these tales of
yesteryear . It was in 1819 , just after
the Napoleonic Wars that things began in
earnest. Trial sinkings we…

Lady Mary’s Walk is one
of Crieff and Strathearn’s most popular
and enjoyable of walks . It was formed in 1815 by Sir Patrick Murray of Ochtertyre and being a favourite walk of his daughter
Lady Mary Murray , became known by her name . Lady Mary’s runs for about a mile along the banks of the Earn
from what is known as Ling- a –wing .
Miss Margaret Wright in her journal
mentions that on 12th May 1815 she “ went a little on the new
walk by the water side , made by Sir Patrick . It must be delightful
“ . Miss Wright in these last words
expresses feelings confirmed by every
native and visitor to Crieff in the last 200 years . In the account of Lady
Mary’s walk in Porteous “ The History of Crieff “ , it states ( and this
was written in the first decade of
the 20th Century ) that : “ It is , however to be regretted , that the peaceful
amenity of the walk has been somewhat spoilt by the close
proximity of the Comrie Railway which runs …

Retired part time lecturer at Perth College and former rugby correspondent to our local paper the Strathearn Herald .Former President and a Honorary Member of Crieff & Strathearn Rugby Club. Written 4 books on the local history of Strathearn .